This is a short story based on characters that I do not own and references to established works.

"A New Ally and A Friendship Questioned"

Zeke, realizing that it was probably a bit late to go visiting, changed his mind as he headed down on the elevator. Since he wasn't quite sure how long Portia might stay in his room, he decided to go out to the pool and order a drink. By nursing a drink for a while, Zeke was sure that he would have given his sister enough time to get herself together and leave-just as he had asked. As he nursed his drink, he heard a voice that he had heard maybe once before, but one that he definitely could not place.

"Hi, Zeke," the voice said.

"Hi," Zeke said as he turned to see the face behind the voice. "It's Elizabeth, right?"

Despite receiving occasional checks by the nurses at night, Trina was eventually able to go back to sleep and get some much needed rest. When she had woken up earlier to see Spencer still by her side, she had felt like talking and listening.

"I can't believe that my mom would work with Esme to break us up. I really thought that she saw how happy you make me," Trina said.

"Shh! Trina, you don't have to talk about this now. You're getting stronger and better, which hopefully means that you'll be getting out of here within the next day or so. Besides, it's all my fault. She did it because of me and because of that..." Spencer said.

"Stop, right there,"Trina interrupted. "We've had this conversation and we buried everything from the past exactly there-in the past. We will not keep coming back to this. Once I'm out of here, we're going to work together to find a way to make sure that Esme goes down."

A few hours later, as the next day arrived, the nurse came in and helped Trina prepare for the day. This time, Spencer was allowed to stay, so that he would be able to help Trina, if she needed it, once she was released. As soon as she was ready and had eaten, Trina, with Spencer offering support, set about getting back to rehabbing by walking around the floor. Trina was even more determined than yesterday to get stronger and show that she was well enough to be discharged.

"What if we run into your mom?" Spencer asked.

"Who?" Trina asked sarcastically.

Based on that response, Spencer realized that the topic of Dr. Portia Robinson was no longer one up for discussion. So, he just helped his girlfriend up dutifully in order for her to begin her walking with him by her side.

Trina, who was determined to get better, made miraculous strides as she walked around the floor with Spencer's support. Neither had even thought to bring the walker that TJ had provided on yesterday. In fact, did it even make its way back to the room? When Trina was finishing up her fifth trip around, Spencer suggested that she take a break so that she could be ready for more later. She didn't argue. She didn't want anything to curtail her progress. They headed back to her room, where Trina decided to sit in one of the chairs, rather than laying in bed. That would be another opportunity to regain more strength, since lying in bed seemed to almost always zap her energy. Before long, Trina received a visitor. It was her Uncle Zeke. Trina was so happy to see him.

"I'm so glad to see you, Uncle Zeke," Trina said happily.

"I'm so glad to see you looking so well. I wasn't quite sure how I'd find you. Although your mom..." Zeke cut himself off before he uttered another word.

"Oh, so you spoke to my mom?" Trina asked.

"Yes, yesterday evening," Zeke responded.

"Did-did she tell you what she did?" Trina asked, trying not to get upset all over again.

"She did, Trina, and I am so sorry. I don't know how she could've done that. The plan to break you two up, Zeke looked over at Spencer, was bad enough. But to conspire with her own child's abuser? I can't believe that the Portia I knew could do something like that," Zeke said.

"Well, she did and I'm ready to move beyond her and anything and anyone else who doesn't want to support me or my relationship with Spencer," she said. The way she said it, almost questionably, let Zeke know that only friends, not foes, of her relationship were welcome in this place.

He readily nodded. "I've seen the two of you and how each of you seem to care for the other. But, I have three questions for you, Trina. Do you love him? Does he make you happy? Does he deserve you?" Zeke asked.

"Let me think about that," Trina said, as she smiled towards Spencer. "Ok, yes, yes, and what was the last...? Oh, never mind, yes."

"Ok," Zeke said as he turned his attention to Spencer. "Spencer, I also have three questions for you. Do you love her? Does she make you happy? Will you spend the rest of your life trying to keep her happy?"

"Absolutely, always, and without a doubt," Spencer answered without hesitation.

Zeke couldn't help but smile at Trina's reaction to Spencer's answers. Trina's uncle extended his hand to Spencer and, as they shook hands, he told Spencer, "Remember those questions and your answers. Trina's got to come first, ok?"

"Absolutely and always, sir," Spencer responded during the handshake.

"Save the sir for my father when you see him again. I'm fine with Zeke," Zeke said to Spencer. At this, Trina was overjoyed.

"Alright, Zeke, it is," Spencer responded.

"Look, I'm going to go make a few phone calls and leave you two alone to talk. Better yet, Trina, it's about time for a few more laps around the floor. How about doing them with Zeke so that you two can catch up?" Spencer suggested.

"I'm up for it," Zeke said. "What about you, niece?"

"Oh, I'm ready," Trina replied.

So, Trina and Zeke headed out the door, while Spencer checked up on Ace's placement with Martin-there were no changes or updates.

The next day, Joss had made plans to visit Trina. So, Spencer, hoping to avoid a potential run-in with Dex, told Trina that he planned on visiting Ace to make sure that he was ok.

During her visit with Trina, Joss finally revealed how her break-up with Cam had transpired.

"Knowing how you're dealing with your mom's dishonesty, I felt that this would be a perfect time to put it all out there about the break-up. I definitely could have been more honest with Cam and handled it better. But, I didn't and for that, I will always be sorry. Cam's a great guy and he didn't deserve that," Joss replied.

"You're right, Joss. He didn't," Trina responded. "Spencer thought there was more to it than you had let us in on when it happened. I'll make sure to let him know that. By the way, when exactly did you first hook up?" Trina inquired.

Still not wanting to be connected in any way to Britt's run-in and ultimate slaying from the Hook, Joss talked vaguely about some time near the holidays. Trina, sensing that she was not getting the full story (How could she not know the exact date that she first made love to her boyfriend? Trina knew that she would never forget the date for her and Spencer.), decided to leave it alone. This just helped her realize that there was an unequal balance in their friendship. Rather than pointing that out, Trina silently realized that there was only so much of her life and its details that Joss would need to know from now on. Spencer would be her only confidant now-he had more than proven himself worthy of that.

After Joss's departure and upon Spencer's return, Trina was cleared to go home. That home was fully and completely with Spencer.